Flying High (And Other Ramblings)

I'm not even going to try to make excuses for my lack of blogging anymore.  Some day life will settle down and I'll have the time to keep everyone up to date more.  Or maybe if I set the expectation that I won't be blogging much, I'll somehow find the time to prove myself wrong.

If you've been reading the blog since the beginning, or even sometime after Kennedy's surgery, you've probably picked up on the fact that we travel quite a bit.  Kennedy has been on several road trips totaling over 10,000 mils.  And she's stayed in more hotels than I can count.  Fortunately for us, she's an excellent little traveler.  But seeing as how we've made three road trips to the Virginia/Carolina area since I've been pregnant with Caleb, we decided to do something a little different this time.  FLYING!  The only way that mommy was taking another trip to Virginia, was if it was on an airplane.  Being 6 months pregnant, there was not a 13+ hour road trip anywhere in my future.  Of course, last Thursday I was questioning our decision to fly, as I tried to pack everything we would need for 9 days, into luggage suitable for air travel.  Unfortunately for Kennedy, this meant that we had to leave ball poppers and pool floats at home.

I'm so excited!  Mommy says we're going to another hotel!

Helping with laundry is hysterical.

Don't forget daddy's gym socks.

Yes, we were "those" people in the airport.

 While waiting for Marlon to park the car, I hung out with our massive pile of luggage.  Everyone was looking at Kennedy, and despite the fact that it was a late night followed by an early morning, Kennedy was in a great mood and was hamming it up for everyone.  Including winking at a man when he got out of a cab.  In fact, she was such a ham that he walked straight into a glass door while looking at her.  After maneuvering our way through the airport, getting checked in, and through security our first stop was Starbucks, of course.  Followed by the overpriced airport gift shop.  Kennedy DEFINITELY needed an overpriced monkey that said "Tampa" on it.  In my defense, I knew it would provide significant amusement over the next few hours.  

Mommy says my monkey is silly like me.   I have no idea what she's talking about...

Was I right about the monkey or what?  

Getting ready to board.  Kennedy was still highly amused by the new monkey.

Terrible photo quality.  But we HAD to have a first flight photo.

The flight was just under 2 hours and Kennedy was an angel.  She could not have been more perfect.  She ate, drank milk, played on my lap, and took a nap.  As we were getting off the plane, the family in the row behind us commented that they had NO idea that there was a baby in front of them.

I have some really great family photos that I'm excited to share...as soon as I get them from my uncle!  In the mean time, here are some snapshots from the weekend!  We had a wonderful time with my family and Kennedy enjoyed her first Passover celebration!

Play time with Great Grandma!

Quality time with daddy!

Mommy, I'm starving!!!

Give. Me. Soup.

My first matzo ball!  Pass me more please.

No one minds if I play with my food for entertainment.  Right?

Oh? Was I supposed to be listening?

A special ice cream treat!

Spending time with Grandpa!

And some quality time with Aunt Michelle.

I love to party with my family!

Visiting with Great Grandma before leaving for North Carolina.

I'm so excited!  I love this hotel...

...and everyone here loves me!

And on one last note, I just have to mention how difficult it has been to get Kennedy to go to sleep lately.  Now that she's more mobile she just wants to go go go.  Tonight I kept laying her down, and she'd go right back to sitting.  This little girl cracks me up!  Even though I wasn't laughing so hard after 40 minutes of this. 

On The Road Again

Kennedy is on the go again.  I'm pretty sure she's traveled more in her first thirteen months than any baby I know.  Fortunately, she's good at it, and enjoys it.  Unfortunately, this impromptu trip north is not for "fun."  Friday was a very sad day for our family.  My husband's grandmother passed away only a week after being diagnosed with cancer.  "Bebe" as she was known to Kennedy, was a wonderful and amazing woman, and she will be greatly missed.  She was one of Kennedy's first visitors in the NICU and just one month ago she was celebrating Kennedy's 1st Birthday with us. 

 

Just two and a half months ago we made the journey to Virginia when my Grandfather passed away.  Never in a million years did I ever think we would be making the journey to Virginia for another funeral, especially so soon.  In fact, I'm pretty sure that on the way home, I said that it was my last "pregnant road trip."  Yesterday we made the journey to North Carolina, and will be continuing on to Virginia later this week for Bebe's funeral service.  Fortunately for Kennedy she is too little to understand, and to her, she's just on another vacation!  Here's some photos from the past few days.

 Grandma came over to help out so mommy could pack!

What do you mean you can't come on this trip Grandma?

I'm packing my toys for mommy.

I'm ready to hit the road!  Mommy said she disagrees with my shirt though.

Having some mac & cheese along the way!

Is it time to get back to the drive?

We're here!  It's 1am.  Mommy says it's not party time, but I have other ideas.

Can someone bring me my dinner? STAT!

 

Kennedy did amazing on the car ride.  And daddy did a great job driving.  Mommy did a great job of not complaining.  After all, I'm not a big fan of long road trips to begin with, but I'm even less of a fan when I'm 5 months pregnant!  When we arrived at 1am, Kennedy was wide awake.  Girlfriend was ready to party!  And that we did.  Until after 3am.  I figured that she would sleep in at least, right?  Yeah, not the case.  This is vacation in Kennedy's mind, and vacation is not for sleeping.  So we were up at 7:15am.  We were on the go most of the day and Kennedy handled it like a champ!  She also seemed to enjoy her Mexican dinner.  A beef taco, refried beans and rice.  I'm pretty sure someone spiked something because she was a wild woman when we got back to the hotel room!  Crawling, rolling and climbing and playing with all of her toys.  This girl is a maniac in hotels.  

We're Home!

Wow.  25 hours in the car and 47 hours in Virginia.  Exhausting to say the least.  It's times like this when you learn how wonderful it is to live near family, and how hard it is when you don't.  It was wonderful to see family again, and it was so much fun for Kennedy to meet the relatives that she has never met.  I just wish it had been under better circumstances. 

The road trip was long and hard.  Traveling with a 10 month old and being pregnant definitely has it's challenges.  After 13 hours straight, we arrived in Virginia around 6:30 Thursday.  And we vowed to drive through the night for our return trip.  My Grandfather's funeral was a beautiful service.  I was brought to tears every time someone mentioned the way that my Grandfather talked about Kennedy and our video chats.  I so wish that he had been able to meet her in person.  Kennedy piped in with a few "dada" comments during the service, but they were a welcome addition from what I heard.  I almost had my husband take her outside at one point, but everyone around us reassured us that it was fine.  She brought smiles to the faces of many, during a time of great sadness. 

Kennedy did amazing through it all.  There were a lot of people, and a ton whom she has never met.  People touching, tickling, passing her, etc.  She never once cried or fussed.  She did however enjoy the rare moments where she was just able to sit on the floor and play.  She also had her first limo ride.  Which means mommy also nearly had a breakdown worrying how to strap her car seat into a limo!  In the end, it was pretty easy, and after the ride we let her play on the seats.  She also had her first real dog experience, and I foresee us owning a dog in the future.  Maddy and Mo loved her - they also loved to lick her face, which she tolerated quite well. 

Last nights drive went much smoother, and unfortunately for mommy and daddy, I think all future road trips will be overnight.  Not only did she sleep for 95% of the 12 hour drive home, but she slept for nearly 3 more hours once we got home, and took a 3.5 hour nap this afternoon!  She must have known mommy needed to catch up on her sleep!  That or all of her relatives wore her out yesterday.

Although there was a lot of family around, there were not many pictures taken.  It just didn't feel like the situation for snapping photos, but I did get a few of Kennedy. 

Mom, are we there yet?  (Stop #3 of 6 - but what felt like 600.)

Mommy, what is this thing?  And why didn't Santa bring me one?

Enjoying a little treat after 13 hours in the car.

Mom, I have my eyes on the frosty, I want MORE!

I'm not sure what it is about this place, but every time we come here I end up sleeping on the pool table. (Don't worry, we moved her upstairs to bed with us later in the evening.)

Mommy, Santa didn't bring me one of these either.  Can we trade in the Explorer for a limo?

There's lots of room mom.  

Mommy, it feels SO good to sit on the floor!  Can you pass me some toys?

I love you Great Grandma.

My Little Traveler

My husband and I really hit the jackpot.  How did we get so lucky to have a baby that loves to travel as much as Kennedy does?  This kid loves hotels.  And she's totally tolerant of road trips.  Of course, we have Grandpa to thank for that.  With out the portable DVD player we would have had serious issues on the ride here.  (Never mind that mommy is still repeating Baby Signing Times in her head.)  I'm sure she'd do great on a plane, but we haven't ventured there yet.  Mostly because mommy and daddy can't seem to pack everything compact enough for a flight.  (Remember - we are the people who had to buy a new SUV before our first road trip with her.)

Despite the all nighter that she pulled in Orlando a week and a half ago, Kennedy has learned that vacations are meant for sleeping.  And I'm happy to report that she's slept in until 8:30 for four days in a row now!  Mommy could get used to this!  Not getting my hopes up though....

Kennedy also seems to like eating out.  Specifically pancakes and chicken tenders.  Oh, and she loves eating menus and tearing apart coloring mats. 

Where's my chicken tenders?  And do you think Santa will bring me a hotel for Christmas?

I Changed My Mind...

Do you remember a few weeks ago when I said I missed the cool weather and the change of seasons?  I'm pretty sure I wrote about it.  Looking at everyone's fall pictures...the true pumpkin patches, apple orchards, babies playing in leaves.  It made me miss living in the north.  However, I got over that pretty quickly, and if you remember, we were at the beach on Sunday.  Now that we're "in the north" where the leaves fall and the seasons change, I've decided maybe I don't miss it so much.  It's quite a hassle to have to dress and undress the baby every time we go somewhere, and get in and out of the car.  I'm not to sure that Kennedy is a fan of coats or hats.  That said, she does seem to like her furry boots.  Then there's all the cold dry air outside, and the dry air from running the heat.  I forgot just how bad living in the north was for my sinuses!  But that aside, we are having fun.  It's great to have some extra daddy time!  And of course, there's something to be said for an indoor pool, housekeeping, turn down service, and not having to cook.  Of course it's somewhat inconvenient that we have to store Kennedy's milk in the hotel freezer.  If that's the case, I don't know why I can't just call for room service when she's ready for a bottle.

I like breakfast in bed.  I even let mama sleep in today!

Forget Cheerios, I want the package.

Oopsies.  Did I do that?

I love my furry boots mom!  Can I wear them more often?

 And my sweaters too!

Where to now mom?